“...tonic of a release, recorded with clarity and warmth, and played with excellence and enjoyment ... there’s no doubting Neeme Järvi’s affectionate and spry conducting is cause to uncork the champagne.”  *****

“... This is all delightful light music, its range as wide as that of Strauss or Sousa... The recorded sound is excellent, up to Chandos’s usual high standard...”

Performance ****      Recording *****

“ Neeme Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra deliver this excellently recorded anthology with great enthusiasm, throwing themselves into these brightly coloured score without a hint of condescension or irony. David Hubbard supplies the cadenza and obbligato solo for bassoon – Fucik’s own instrument – in the comic polka The Old Grumbler with verve. All in all, this is a highly enjoyable reminder of the delights of Romanticism’s popular side” 

Editor’s Choice – Orchestral Section

“…The sound picture is a Chandos spectacular… All in all, this is the best Fucik disc since Václav Neumann and the Czech Philharmonic in 1976.” 

Performance ***** Sonics (Multichannel) *****

"Neeme Järvi and the Royal Scottish National Orchestra perform each of the 14 pieces of this generously filled SACD with typical style and panache. The 5. 0 24 bit / 96kHz recording made in the Glasgow Concert Hall is as crisp and sparkling as the performances. Exceptionally informative notes on the composer’s life and music by Nigel Simeone are the icing on the cake for this hugely entertaining and exhilarating programme. In every respect a most welcome release."